Caulfield Tips on October 18th - Race-By-Race preview for Caulfield Cup Day
Caulfield Racecourse will host a thrilling day of races on October 18, 2025, with the famous $5 million Caulfield Cup as the main event. The day promises intense competition with top-class stayers and rising stars showcasing their talent. A variety of races, including the Group 1 Thousand Guineas, adds to the excitement. Punters can look forward to strategic betting opportunities with highlights like 'Private Eye' and 'Abounding' in win markets, while 'Mcwoody' offers each-way betting value.
- Caulfield Cup Day features a $5 million Caulfield Cup & Group 1 Thousand Guineas
- Race day consists of a ten-race card with strong sprints and middle-distance challenges
- Top selections include 'Private Eye,' 'Abounding,' 'Tentyris,' and 'Mcwoody'
- Full race-by-race preview is detailed below
Caulfield takes centre stage on Saturday, October 18, with a blockbuster program headlined by the time-honoured $5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) and supported by the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) for the three-year-old fillies.
The meeting traditionally marks a key turning point in the spring, bringing together proven Group-class stayers and rising stars from across the eastern states.
A ten-race card filled with quality and betting depth awaits punters, featuring strong sprints, middle-distance features and key form pointers leading into the Melbourne Cup Carnival. With even fields and multiple angles in play, it’s one of the premier wagering days of the season. Here are our free Australian Racing tips for Caulfield on Saturday.
Caulfield Tips on October 18th
Race 1 - 12:15 PM Lamaro’s Hotel Plate Tips (1400m)
3. Icarian Dream brings decent form, with a good return at Flemington after settling a long way back before running the second-fastest last 600m and 400m of the Group 3 Scarborough Stakes.
That event produced a smart Point Barrow, who impressed last week. Icarian Dream’s sole win came against Cool Archie, a Group 1 winner who completed a five-peat over autumn and early winter.
1. Matahga just missed in an eye-catching debut before taking out her next two starts, which includes a Listed win over Ethereum Girl, who was a Group 3 winner at her next attempt.
9. Sulek relished the rise to this journey when breaking through at Sandown and form around that race has been okay.
5. Bacash has been up a long time but is holding touch and has the best string of exposed form in the field. Does he run 1400m?
Selections: 3,1,9,5.
Race 2 - 12:50 PM Sportsbet Classic Tips (2000m)
Competitive affair. All single-figure elects bring form through the Super Impose or Derby Preview, and with Options (Super Impose winner) scratched, it doesn’t get any clearer.
At long odds is 8. Mcwoody, who was a debut victor last month, and there was plenty of merit to that effort when overcoming traffic after being shuffled back at a key stage. Not easy for any horse to do that, let alone a debutant, and he grabbed a handy She’s A Hustler in a recent jump-out.
7. Arabian Prince looks the number-one seed for the Victoria Derby. Loved his late work in the Super Impse (race-fastest last 400 m and 200 m), and the longer the better for this youngster.
2. Miewa had his chance in the Super Imp0se but was only beaten a pimple as favourite there. Was also a month between runs.
3. Autumn Mystery showed talent early in hot company and broke through in the Victoria Derby Trial.
Selections: 8,7,2,3.
Race 3 - 1:25 PM Schweppes Ethereal Stakes Tips (2000m)
The early market has warmed to 3. Just A Journey, who is on trial at the distance after being beaten in the last stride in the Group 3 Edward Manifold Stakes, which followed a brave win in Sydney.
A switch to Caulfield shouldn’t hurt her on-speed pattern, and she just lacked the late turn-of-foot last time after setting a very slow tempo up front. Short enough, but the starting point here.
7. Arizona Luck is at huge odds, but she’s a sniff now getting to 2000m. Fresh winner last month and, before being set a task at Ballarat, she stuck on well in the Thousand Guineas Prelude.
4. Zouclaire couldn’t build momentum when she needed to at Geelong, which followed a second-up defeat as an odds-on favourite.
12. Future Frankie made inroads on debut for third with the fastest last 200m of that Cranbourne event. Suited up in trip.
Selections: 3,7,4,12.
Race 4 - 2:00 PM Stow Storage Gothic Stakes Tips (1200m)
A late betting drift suggested that 2. Tentyris was in need of the run first-up, and while that proved correct, the Danehill Stakes effort was still sound when in the inferior ground up the Flemington straight.
He switched on quickly in his first campaign after a debut fifth, having dead-heated a Listed race before just missing in the Blue Diamond, and the colt was a stylish Sydney winner before a spell.
1. Mcgaw put a safe margin on Tentyris when taking out the Danehill Stakes. Was suited there, but he’s a raw youngster with above-average ability and the penny is starting to drop.
3. Raging Force went too quick in The Run To The Rose and has been freshened since that attempt. Comfortably won his prior four outings.
6. Ripley accounted for two subsequent winners via his strong October 1 resumption and still did a fair bit wrong (laid in).
Selections: 2,1,3,6.
Race 5 - 2:35 PM Manhari Alinghi Stakes Tips (1100m)
12. Akaysha returns to Melbourne and brings excellent form lines for this level. She opened her campaign at Flemington with a narrow second to My Gladiola, who was then just beaten in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes.
She followed that with another runner-up finish in the Heritage Stakes, where the form has since stacked up strongly — first, third and fifth from that race filled the trifecta in last week’s Group 2 Roman Consul, while Farnicle (sixth) ran second in the Listed Tapp-Cragg.
It’s solid Sydney form that measures up well for this assignment, and although she now meets older mares for the first time, she’s weighted to remain competitive under these conditions.
6. Soft Love looms as the main threat, boasting an excellent fresh record with all three wins coming first or second-up, and she returns to the scene of her powerful track-and-trip win in April.
9. Stokke has earned a crack at this level after two confident wins to start the prep, while 1. Austmarr is a big mare who carries plenty of condition and should take improvement from her fresh run.
Selections: 12,6,9,1.
Race 6 - 3:10 PM Herald Sun Sprint Tips (1000m)
3. Arabian Summer appeals in her preferred 1000m–1100m range, and it’s hard to see why Zealously holds early favouritism given the overall depth here.
This mare should’ve finished closer last week after being held up at a key stage behind Giga Kick, having earlier run honestly for a Group 1 placing first-up, and she continues to produce consistently strong efforts against quality opposition.
4. Sghirripa can improve sharply if he rediscovers his early-career touch, with recent jump-outs suggesting he’s close to recapturing form.
2. Nadal is a query runner if he finally resumes, having been scratched several times this campaign, but he has a booming finish to take care of this lot if anywhere near right.
6. Geegees Mistruth is a knockout hope with gear tweaks and a freshen after a forgive run (choked down?). Can figure if she reproduces her early-career form.
Selections: 3,4,2,6.
Race 7 - 3:45 PM Schweppes Thousand Guineas Tips (1600m)
1. Apocalyptic has been the standout early-season three-year-old filly, stringing together a hat-trick of Sydney victories capped by a dominant Group 1 Flight Stakes win.
Her versatility has been a highlight — producing a sharp turn-of-foot off a quiet ride first-up, circling rivals to score second-up, and controlling the race from outside the speed last time. She’s continued to raise the bar with every run.
The only query is how she handles going the Melbourne way for the first time and the travel south, though her professional racing manners and adaptable style suggest she should take it in her stride.
4. Getta Good Feeling was badly held-up before forcing clear at the 150m to grab Just A Journey late in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes, an effort that rated far better than the winning margin suggests.
12. Mating Call’s debut win at Balaklava warranted a shot at Melbourne’s early-season features, and she’s held her form well throughout her first campaign. After working hard in the Thousand Guineas Prelude, she stuck on for third in the Edward Manifold Stakes. Can’t draw a gate, though.
3. Ole Dancer heads the local brigade, with excuses in both defeats and shaping as one suited by getting out to the mile now after consistent Melbourne form.
Selections: 1,4,12,3.
Race 8 - 4:30 PM Sportsbet Moonga Stakes Tips (1400m)
This is good placement from Joe Pride in sending 2. Private Eye back south to the scene of his Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes victory on August 16, and he’s been competitive in two stronger September races.
A grand campaigner for connections, with nearly $12.5 million in prize money and 13 victories to his name, the eight-year-old finds a Group 3 that’s light on for depth, and Nash Rawiller reunites — having been aboard for his last three wins.
9. Payline has been building well in three Melbourne appearances and appears to be looking for this 1400m journey. Maybe peaking here?
7. Royal Insignia needs to bounce back after a plain third-up effort, having shown more in his first two runs this prep, and back around a bend could be the key.
10. Star Patrol has been racing well this campaign, though 1400m remains a slight query.
Selections: 2,9,7,10.
Race 9 - 5:15 PM Sportsbet Caulfield Cup Tips (2400m)
15. Half Yours looks superbly placed back under handicap conditions, dropping to 52.5kg after charging home for fourth in the Turnbull Stakes, where he produced the fastest last 800m, 600m, 400m and 200m of the race.
That was elite form behind Sir Delius, Antino and Via Sistina, three of the best 2000m horses in Australia, and it confirmed his progression toward this trip. His earlier Naturalism Stakes victory showed he can settle closer when required, while his dominant Caloundra Cup win at 2400m in July ticked the staying box comprehensively.
Ciaron Maher is chasing a third Caulfield Cup and Mark Zahra stays aboard 3. Middle Earth, who has been steadily building this preparation. Despite all his European wins coming beyond 2000m, this is the first time he gets to a true staying trip in Australia, and he’s been timed perfectly to peak on Cup Day.
10. Deakin continues to improve with racing and looks ready to peak stepping up to 2400m following a solid effort for sixth in the Turnbull Stakes. He secured his Melbourne Cup ballot exemption via the Roy Higgins Quality in March and has been brought along with that long-term goal in mind.
12. Revelare is the knockout chance if able to bounce back to earlier form. He was a leading local Cups contender before a brutally run Bart Cummings left him flat, and a slow recovery was noted post-race. A rebound wouldn’t surprise.
Selections: 15,3,10,12.
Race 10 - 5:50 PM Sharp EIT Solutions Tristarc Stakes Tips (1400m)
5. Abounding deserves a breakthrough, placing in her last four appearances, including a Group 1 Tatts Tiara second before a freshen-up.
Held-up in her first and third Melbourne showings, could’ve won either or both, and was a close-up second-up in a strong form race at Flemington. 1500m back to 1400m is a tick, and she gets her chance.
7. Bossy Nic has improved as the prep has worn on, with two solid New South Wales runs via her last few, and she was held-up in the latest. This looks easier, and she’s over the odds.
1. Miraval Rose ran into a smart Angel Capital fresh before recording back-to-back triumphs. Great Caulfield and 1400m stats, and well placed again staying in mares company.
2. Splash Back brings the same recent references as Abounding and won the last of those. Abounding is better suited here but still has claims.
Selections: 5,7,1,2.
Verdict
Best & Value Tips for Caulfield Cup Day 2025:
Private Eye
To Win
@17/10 - 3 Units
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Abounding
To Win
@11/5 - 3 Units
£25 Free Bet Refund
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Tentyris
To Win
@8/5 - 3 Units
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Mcwoody
Each Way
@17/1 - 1 Unit
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